< Back to results

Minimisation and valorisation of residues

  • Health and safety
  • Land-use planning
  • Permitting processes / policy integration
  • Reporting official statistics
  • Socio-economic and environmental impact assessments

Challenge the practice is addressing: Mineral waste is usually produced as by-product during the processing, refining and converting of raw materials. There is great potential to reduce waste or increase the value of current low-value-side- and waste streams or by-products. Plus, waste management in the context of mine closures will become a major challenge.

Concrete practice to achieve the expected goal: New processes and technologies that should be developed include: metallurgical processes for low-grade and non-conventional ore deposits, technologies that enhance the extraction and concentration of metals, new processes such as plasma technology, electron beam technology, etc., new extraction technologies based on hydrometallurgy/pyrometallurgy, smart metallurgical process routes, new methods and technologies for mine closure and remediation and improved beneficiation technologies to increase yields from old mine waste disposal sites.

Expected impact/goal of the practice: The expectation is that by 2030, raw materials and nutrients can be recovered from wastewater streams, tailings or industrial side-streams, including the utilisation of the remaining residues. New and improved technologies are used for piloting the reprocessing of suitable old tailings and end-of-life material streams. By 2050, a highly integrated, circular, flexible and modular concept of the factory following the ManuFutur principles will be in place.

Who is the target user group of the practice/intervention or implementing the practice/intervention? Industry

Hyperlink
View document
Source
Research and Innovation Roadmap 2050, pp. 27-29
Year
2018
Data item type
Knowledge base
Practice type
Industry
Format
Report / document
Learning relevance
Guidelines / guidance document
Commodity
Unspecified (universally applicable)
Extractive life-cycle
Post-exploitation phase (i.e. rehabilitation)
Exploitation phase
Pre-exploitation / development stage (e.g. feasibility study)
Sustainability scope
Role and indicators for an inclusive Green Economy
Planning beyond the mine life
Extractives' role in closing cycles
Waste management
Water stewardship
Efficient energy consumption
System change potential
New processes and technologies that should be developed include: metallurgical processes for low-grade and non-conventional ore deposits, technologies that enhance the extraction and concentration of metals, new processes such as plasma technology, electron beam technology, etc., new extraction technologies based on hydromettalurgy/pyrometallurgy, smart metallurgical process routes, new methods and technologies for mine closure and remediation, improved beneficiation technologies to increase yields from old mine waste disposal sites.
New processes and technologies that should be developed include: metallurgical processes for low-grade and non-conventional ore deposits, technologies that enhance the extraction and concentration of metals, new processes such as plasma technology, electron beam technology, etc., new extraction technologies based on hydromettalurgy/pyrometallurgy, smart metallurgical process routes, new methods and technologies for mine closure and remediation, improved beneficiation technologies to increase yields from old mine waste disposal sites.